Demon Being System

The martial arts class was one of the few sessions Kaden genuinely looked forward to. The teacher, Master Reyn, stood tall with a muscular build, his silver hair tied neatly behind his head. His piercing green eyes scanned the students, but not with judgment. Unlike most other instructors, Master Reyn did not discriminate based on rank, background, or ability. For him, every student was a blank slate, and his sole focus was teaching them to master their bodies and minds.

Kaden respected that. It mirrored his own philosophy—he only cared about learning, improving, and surviving. So he absorbed every word Master Reyn said like a sponge.

Today, the class began as usual with students forming neat rows on the training grounds. Master Reyn stood at the front, hands clasped behind his back, his sharp voice breaking the silence.

"Today, I want you all to answer a simple question," he began. "What is the most important thing in battle?"

A boy in the front row immediately raised his hand, his chest puffed out with confidence. "Strength," he answered proudly.

Master Reyn shook his head, his expression unmoved. "Wrong," he replied curtly.

Before anyone else could attempt, Lira, standing a few rows behind Kaden, spoke up. "Footwork," she said firmly. "After all, the essence of battle is to hit the opponent but not get hit."

Master Reyn's eyes lit up with approval. "Correct," he said, a rare smile gracing his lips. "This is why I'll be teaching all of you the basic two-step shift. It is the simplest footwork technique but can be added to any move to make it more powerful. Allow me to demonstrate."

He took a deep breath through his nostrils, and with his energy focused, he threw a punch into the air. A sharp bang echoed across the training ground, the sound rippling through the air like a thunderclap. Kaden felt his heart quicken at the sheer power of the strike.

"Now, I want you to watch carefully as I add the two-step shift," Master Reyn continued. This time, he spread his legs slightly wider and got into a stance. His front foot stepped forward, landing firmly, followed by his back foot. As his weight shifted forward, he unleashed another punch. The sound that followed was deafening, nearly four times louder than the first. A powerful gust of wind swirled around them, sending a few stray leaves flying.

"Do you see?" Master Reyn said, straightening his posture. "The two-step shift is a technique on its own, while the punch is another. When combined, the power is amplified significantly. Even if your energy is weak, perfect footwork can transform an average strike into a devastating blow."

The class was silent, awestruck. Kaden's eyes gleamed with fascination. He couldn't wait to try it.

Master Reyn spent the next hour teaching the class the movements step by step. He demonstrated the shift multiple times, ensuring everyone understood. The students practiced slowly at first, focusing on precision. Master Reyn walked among them, correcting postures and offering tips.

Once the basics were nailed down, they were allowed to add a punch to the sequence. Kaden concentrated hard, repeating the movement until it felt natural. When he threw his punch using the two-step shift, he could feel the added force. It wasn't much at first, but it was noticeable. His fists felt heavier, deadlier.

________________________________________________________________

After the martial arts class, Kaden felt drained but satisfied. He made his way to the cafeteria, his stomach rumbling. Jace had gone to the academy hospital to tend to his wounds, so Kaden was alone. After grabbing a plate of steaming rice and stew, he sat at a corner table and began eating quietly.

Moments later, a group of boys approached, their presence hostile. They sat in front of him and to his sides, surrounding him. Kaden looked up, his jaw tightening. It was the same group of bullies he had beaten the night before. Their faces were nearly healed, likely due to the academy's potent healing potions, but the anger in their eyes burned brightly.

"You got lucky last night," the leader, the middle-rank student, sneered. "But let's see how tough you are now."

Kaden raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "I already beat you once," he said coolly, taking another bite of his food. "I can gladly do it again."

The bullies' faces reddened with embarrassment. The leader gritted his teeth. "It's true we can't beat you," he admitted, his tone venomous. "But you don't know who you've messed with. My father will hear about this. I'll make sure your family pays."

Kaden paused, his expression unchanging. Then, with a cold smirk, he said, "Be my guest." He stood up, leaving the table and the bullies in stunned silence.

________________________________________________________________

Later that night, Kaden found himself in the academy's testing dojo. The dimly lit room was silent, save for the faint hum of the punching strength tester. He approached the device, his fists clenched. Taking a deep breath, he assumed the stance Master Reyn had taught earlier.

With his front foot stepping forward and his back foot shifting into place, Kaden threw a punch. The force of the strike echoed against the dojo walls. He glanced at the digital display on the machine.

13.

His eyes widened in amazement. Just the day before, his last punch had registered an 11. The two-step shift had amplified his strength by 2 points—a significant improvement.

"This technique…" Kaden muttered to himself, a smirk tugging at his lips. "It's incredible. It'll only grow stronger as I do."

Satisfied, he left the dojo and headed back to the dorms. On his way, the sounds of grunting and muffled cries reached his ears. Bullying was rampant at this hour. But Kaden didn't interfere, none of his business.

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Creation is hard, cheer me up!

Like it ? Add to library!

Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.

Thank you all for reading. Arigato